Pushing open the door to my room, I quickly shed the suit, taking off my shoulder holster and tossing it and the gun it holds onto my bed, and throw on a pair of sweats and a black wife beater. This stalker thing has got me all paranoid, so after a moment’s debate with myself, I grab the gun, making sure the safety is engaged, and shove it into the back of my pants. Not since the incident with Jaxon and Jacinta’s mom have we been worried about the security of our house. Never before have I felt the need to carry a gun at home, but the threats against Harlow have opened my eyes. Maybe we’ve become a bit lax; the tragedy with their mom and her gang was years ago, and even though Dad had private security on the grounds immediately after, he didn’t renew their contract after a few years passed without further trouble. If he won’t call someone in, I might just reach out to my own connections. What good are they for if not to help keep my family safe?
I contemplate staying here and just going to bed, but after every charity thing, we have a sort of debriefing to discuss who approached us for money, whether we committed anything, or if we were interested in supporting their chosen charity. If I put it off until the morning, everything will have become too vague for me. With a sigh, I head back to the living room.
When I get there, I find them all on the back patio instead, lights off, just sitting in the dark and enjoying the peace and tranquility. Being a part of the Summers family really does take a toll on the soul sometimes. People only want you for what you can give them as opposed to the person you are. I know each and every one of my brothers and my sister feel this keenly, and the need to escape and recharge hits us on a regular basis.
For me, just being able to get on one of our planes and escape to another country helps, but the Summers name follows you, so finding hidden gems in foreign countrysides is a hobby of mine. I have a list of places I like to visit where the locals don’t know me from the next tourist. It helps to settle the mind and makes it easier to breathe again.
“That’s your coffee there, Tom.” Dad points at the empty seat with a mug in front of it. As I move closer, I can see Jacinta has joined us. She’s wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and a tank top similar to mine. Bending down, I give her a kiss on the cheek and ruffle her hair, unable to resist that little bit of closeness with her. No matter how old we get, she’ll always be my little sister, and right now, she’s hurting a bit. She hadn't come to the event, not that she ever enjoys them anymore than the rest of us. She’s still licking her wounds, and she didn't want to be bombarded with gossips trying to work out the real story behind her hiatus at Neighpalm Couture.
“Where’s Oli?” I ask, noticing my brother is missing.
Kai snorts. “He saw a Neighpalm limo drive toward the stables and decided it can only be Harlow. He wanted to know where his precious car was, so he raced off to ask her.”
Pulling out my chair, I move to sit down, but before I can, an ear-splitting scream has us all jumping up.
“Harlow!” Kai cries, taking off down the steps and toward the stables. I pull my gun out of my waistband and tear after him, everyone else on my heels. Jaxon’s eyebrows raise in surprise at the sight of it.
“I’ve been carrying it around since yesterday’s threat. Didn't think it would hurt to have something just in case.”
When we get to the stables, we find Oliver with his arms wrapped around Holden, tears streaking his face, and Harlow, pale and shaky. My eyes go to the legs sticking out of the stable with what looks like blood covering them.
“Holy shit,” Kai says next to me.
Jacinta says something before she steps a little closer and peers over Harlow’s shoulder at the rest of the body, but the adrenaline has my gaze darting around the space, attention only half on her. “Oh my god,” she gasps, turning to hide her face in our brother’s chest as he grits his teeth, his face wreathed with anger.
“This has gone too far,” he says through clenched teeth.
“You’re not wrong,” I say to them, tucking the gun into the back of my sweatpants.
“Right, as of today, Harlow and Jacinta, you don't goanywherealone.” Dad pulls out his phone and taps at the screen, likely calling the police.
I hear Harlow trying to argue with Dad about his restrictions, giving excuses about what needs to be done, but my thoughts aren’t really on the conversation. My brain is trying to work out the puzzle.Who would be targeting Harlow?But I don’t know enough about her to be able to have a clue.
Declan has just finished trying to reassure Dad about Harlow’s safety when I grab him by the arm and pull him aside.
“Have you heard back from the PI?” I ask him, and his frown deepens.
“No, actually, I haven’t. I keep meaning to chase him down, but things seem to come up, and I haven’t had a chance yet.”
“I need you to get in contact with him as soon as possible. Even if the police are involved now, he might be able to investigate things that they can’t. Turn him away from investigating her and look at the people around her. She’s obviously not doing this to herself, and I really don’t think she has any hidden or alternative motives like we first suspected. I’ll see what I can find out too.”
I know what I said is a surprise since I’m usually the most suspicious out of everyone, even more so than Jacinta, but I have my own ways of vetting people... or getting rid of them if I need to. “Look, my gut is telling me we can trust her.”
“Wow, okay then, you haven't said that in a long time. I’ll give him a call first thing tomorrow.” I nod my head in thanks, telling myself that I need to check with my own connections too.
“The police are on their way. They told me to not let you touch anything until they get here,” Dad says, hanging up his phone. “Let’s go up to the house and leave everything alone until they get here.”
Harlow rises to argue with him, but he stops her, giving her a logical reason she can’t argue with. Once she agrees, Dad leaves, followed by Oliver and Holden, their walls firmly back up again. It’s sad to see that happen so quickly. I thought this might have been the kick in the ass they both needed to just throw away what’s holding them back. Life’s too short to not be with the person you want to be with, but now's not the time I guess.
I decide to stay and wait for the police, not sure I can be around the others at the moment. I'm a ball of built up aggression and anger at the thought of someone wanting to hurt my sister and, surprisingly, Harlow.That’s a thought to put a pin in.“You go ahead,” I tell them all, dragging a bale of hay out of the stables and putting it against one wall. “I’m going to wait here for the police or in case Josh comes in for any reason.”
Looking up when I feel Harlow's eyes on me, that anger morphing into hot desire when the light shines directly onto her mesh top, giving me an obvious glimpse of her nipples. I can see a matching desire in her eyes, and she watches me closely. I keep my face disinterested though, not ready or wanting this complication.
“Wipe your drool, will you?” I hear my sister whisper to her as she throws a pair of overalls at her feet and shouts for the others to wait for her before rushing after them.
Harlow’s eyes leave mine and snap to Jacinta, blushing slightly at being caught eye fucking me.
My brother puts his arm around her, and she looks even more embarrassed. But unlike any other woman, it doesn’t bother me if she is interested in both me and my brother; in fact, I realize I don’t care if it's any of my brothers. There’s a sly voice in my head that says,Imagine what she’d look like strolling across the green fields of Ireland, that castle you love as a backdrop. Then what she would look like spread out on the rug in front of the open fire, wearing nothing but a smile.The worst part of it is that the voice doesn’t sound like Nana anymore. It sounds much too suspiciously like my own. I run a hand through my hair as I look away.Fuck, Nana really has gotten to me.
